Plastic pouring spouts and combinations



Fe 15, 9 R. L. PARISH, JR., ETAL 3,235,146

PLASTIC POURING' SPOUTS AND GOMBINATIONS Filed July 51, 1964 1 9 20 2/ /5 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,235,146 7 V PLASTIC POURING SPOUTS AND COMBINATIONS Richard L. Parish, Jr., North Salem, N.Y., and Herbert F. Wheaton, Summit, NJ., assignors to American Flange & Manufacturing Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 31, 1964, Ser. No. 386,612 11 Claims. (Cl. 222478) This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 240,020 entitled, Retractable Pouring Spouts and Combinations, filed November 26, 1962, now Patent No. 3,172,573.

This invention relates to retractable pouring spouts for containers and to closure assemblies embodying such spouts and is particularly concerned with such spouts molded of synthetic plastic material.

The said application Serial No. 240,020 disclosed a retractable, or pull-up type, pouring spout which had its lower end portion so formed as to enable insertion of that end and consequent assembly of the spout within a supporting container nozzle. At the same time that end was formed to provide a rigid leakproof seal with the nozzle when the spout was sealed in extended pouring position. The spout of application Serial No. 240,020 can be used effectively in the dispensing of a number of common commodities. When used with some fluid fuels and solvents, however, the dimensionally unstable plastic material of the spout swells, preventing the proper engagement of its lower end portion with the nozzle when setting the spout up for pouring. Various efforts have been made to compensate for this swelling action but they have not proven wholly successful due to the wide range of dimensional variation presented by the plastic spout between a normal and a swollen condition.

The improved construction of the instant invention solves the problems caused by severe swelling of the plastic material without sacrificing to any significant extent the structural and sealing qualities of the spout. It does so by constructing the spout for minimum swell and then utilizing that swell to advantage. In effect this involves providing a spout construction having two separate nozzle engaging sealing surfaces. One of the sealing surfaces has an infinite number of sealing positions and is adapted to provide an effective rigid leakproof seal with the container nozzle when the spout is raised to pouring position after having been swollen by submersion in the container contents. The other. sealing surface has a single sealing position which allows the spout to securely grip or interlock with the nozzle when in fully extended pouring position. This position is effective when the fluid dispensed does not cause swelling of the spout as well as being effective when the spout returns to its normal unswollen condition such as after the container contents have been partially drawn off leaving the retracted spout suspended above the liquid. In addition the spout of the invention is readily and easily applied to a container previously fitted with a suitable nozzle.

To achieve the sealing at an infinite number of positions, the lower portion of the spout has been specially formed to minimize swelling while retaining structural rigidity for effecting a tight sealing with the nozzle at the same time assuring that it stands up properly for pouring.

Although the desirability of reducing the detrimental deformation caused by swelling has long been recognized, it was not until the advent of the instant invention that it was appreciated how this reduction could be effected without seriously impairing other functional aspects of the spout.

It is accordingly a principal object of the invention to provide improved retractable plastic pouring spouts for containers and mountings therefor.

Another object is to provide improved plastic retractable pouring sp'outs which will function properly when used with a wide range of solvents.

Still another object is to provide for the ready assembly of retractable pouring spouts with their nozzles after such nozzles have been permanently secured to a container wall opening.

Still another object is to provide plastic retractable pouring spouts wherein tight sealing with nozzles can be effected regardless of swelling of the spout material.

A further object is to provide plastic retractable pouring spouts wherein the detrimental swelling effect of solvents thereupon has been minimized.

A still further object is to provide plastic spout and nozzle assemblies wherein a rigid leakproof seal is effected between spout and nozzle with the spout in extended pouring position whether the spout retains the normal dimensions or has been swelled by contact with the container contents.

Further and more detailed objects will be in part obvi- 011s and in part pointed out as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds.

In that drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the spout in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a part elevati'onal, part sectional view of a spout and nozzle assembly showing the spout in retracted position;

FIG. 3 is an assembly view showing the spout in fully extended pouring position;

FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 3 but showing aspout that has swelled seated in extended pouring position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 55 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The spout assembly of the invention as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 comprises a pull-up retractable pouring spout 1 and a supporting nozzle 2 wherein the spout is formed of 1a synthetic plastic material of which polypropylene and polyethylene are non-limiting examples. The nozzle is preferably formed of sheet metal to impart structural rigidity to the assembly but is not essential that it be so formed. For chemical resistance the nozzle can also be formed of a plastic material or can be of metal suitably coated to resist corrosion. The nozzle 2 is seamed in place within an opening in a container wall 3 by its securing formation 4 but it is not necessary that the securing be of this type.

Extending upwardly from the securing formation 4 is a screw threaded neck 5 which is adapted to receive a threaded cap. The upper end of the neck 5 is rounded inwardly at 6 and continues downwardly to form a stepped interior wall having an upper cylindrical wall .-portion 7, an intermediate inwardly extending shelf 8 and a lower cylindrical wall portion 9 terminating in a free end edge 10.

Considering the detail of the pouring spout 1 per se, it is seen to have an upper cylindrical portion 11 and a lower outwardly flared or tapered portion 12 with the juncture between these upper and lower surfaces being indicated at 13. In order to facilitate easy insertion of the spout 1 within the nozzle 3 and to provide for effective seating of it in the nozzle when in unswelled condition, the bottom end is castellated by having a plurality of spaced recesses 14 formed upwardly thereinto from the bottom edge and terminating in bases 15. The spout end structure thus comprises a plurality of separate depending lugs 16, preferably four, equally spaced. Each of the lugs 16 is provided with a radially outwardly projecting curved flange 17 having a bottom edge 18, an outwardly and upwardly beveled outer surface 19 and a top ledge 20. The flanges 17 are further seen to have beveled ends 21 which extend beyond the bodies of the lugs 16 into the recesses 19 so that the curved top ledge or shelf 20 terminates in inner end edge portions 22. This castellated formation provides suflicient resilience to allow the spout to be easily assembled with the nozzle even though relatively rigid plastic materials are employed in molding the spout and that molding is to a close tolerance. Thus the spout can be readily applied to the nozzle subsequent to the nozzle having been permanently secured to the container wall opening.

Once the spout 1 has been assembled with the nozzle for slidable movement therein, it can be dropped into retracted position and is supported within the container by the radially outwardly extending lip 23 which as seen in FIG. 2 engages with the nozzle shelf 8. With the spout in this retracted position the container can be readily filled through the spout since it is provided with a vent opening 24 to allow air to escape from the upper part of the container when the liquid level reaches the lower end of the spout.

To aid in raising the spout to extended pouring position, a finger grip 25 positioned above the vent 24 is integrally formed with the lip 23. When the spout reaches its fully extended pouring position, it is rigidly held in place by the engagement of the circumferentially disposed outwardly opening seat or groove 26 with the nozzle wall portion 9. The groove 26 has a base 27, an upper wall 28 and an interrupted lower wall formed by the ledges 20. Accidental retraction of the spout is prevented by the tight seating of the lower cylindrical wall portion 9 within the groove 26. It should be noted that the engagement of the spout and nozzle parts is of such a fit as to prevent leakage between the spout and nozzle.

The above described relationship as depicted in FIGS. 3 and applies where the container contents are not such as to impart a swelling effect to the plastic of the spout. However, in those instances where the spout has swelled so that it cannot be raised to its fully extended position, a tight rigid friction fit can nevertheless be effected at the position to which the tapered portion 12 can be drawn up as illustrated in FIG. 4. This results from the special formation of the lower part of the spout of the invention.

In the first place it will be noted that the wall thickness of the tapered portion 12 of the spout is uniform from the portion 13 right down to the bottom end of the spout. Further than that the wall is relatively thin considering the diameter of the spout member and in this instance the thickness of the wall of the portion 12 is shown as being the same as that of the cylindrical portion 11 extending up above the line of juncture 13. It is not essential, however, that portions 11 and 12 have the same wall thickness, though manufacture is simplified by doing so. What is important is that the thickness of the portion of the wall to be engaged with the nozzle collar 9, when the spout is in pouring position, be kept down so that the swelling of the material, when subjected to the action of container contents capable of causing such swelling, will not be so great as to preclude an effective seating of the spout in an intermediate raised position for pouring as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Should the spout wall be thickened as the lower end of it is approached, there would be more plastic to swell and the swelling becomes greater in relationship thereto. Thus a swelling of such proportion so as to preclude seating the spout in effective pouring position can be contemplated where such thickening exists.

Besides imposing a limitation on the swelling by keeping the wall thickness at a minimum and keeping it uniform, the spout of the invention also provides for effective seating of the spout 1 in the nozzle collar 9, though there may have been sufiicient swelling to preclude pulling the spout up all the way for the collar 9 to snap into the recess 26. This is achieved by having the upper portion 11 of the spout cylindrical and of such a diameter that regardless of swelling it will he slidable within the collar 9. Once the spout is slid up beyond the cylindrical portion 11 however the tapered portion 12 is brought up into the collar. In unswelled condition this portion also can he slid up through the collar until the recess 26 is reached. However when the spout and particularly the portion 12 thereof has been swelled, only a part of it, and the extent of this part will depend upon the swelling, can be drawn up within the collar 9. Then, at some position, as seen in FIG. 4, the collar and spout will come into tight engagement. The spout can be raised no further but it will be held in place in the position in which it has been raised so that effective pouring can be carried out.

To enable this effective seating of the swelled spout to be achieved, it is important that the taper of the portion 12 be kept small and, preferably, be kept within the range of 1 through 3 degrees from the longitudinal axis. This is to enable a surface seating to be achieved between the cylindrical collar 9 and the swelled spout portion 12 for which seating the spout is of sufficient resiliency. If the taper is greater than the range given, surface seating cannot normally be achieved. Instead the free end edge 10 of the nozzle collar 9 bites into the surface 12 so the contact between nozzle and spout is substantially that of a line. The spout can be easily dislodged from such a contact particularly if one rests the spout against an opening when pouring from a container. With the surface contact of the invention, however, engagement of so substantial an extent is present that dislodgement of the spout from pouring position is not normally achieved by the actions incident to pouring from the container.

Once a portion of the contents of the container have been dispensed so that the spout, when dropped into the retracted position of FIG. 2, no longer reaches down into the liquid, the problem of swelling is normally overcome. In such case the spout can be pulled up all the way so that the recess 26 engages with the collar 9 before one tilts the container and brings the liquid into contact with the spout.

The length of the portion 12, starting from the diameter of the portion 11, with respect to the overall length of the spout should be great enough that even with sub stantial swelling the tapered portion 12 can be pulled a substantial distance up within the collar 9. Otherwise the right position for the surface contact between the collar and the portion 12 might not readily be found. Nevertheless the cylindrical upper portion 11 should be of suflicient length for the spout to extend out for pouring well beyond the chime of the container whose contents are being dispensed. These ends are achieved by the relationship of the elements of the invention spout where the tapered portion lies within /3 to /2 of the overall length of the spout. This is not necessarily a limiting range,'for longer or shorter tapered portions can well be effective depending upon a number of factors, of which the resiliency and swelling capability of the spout material and the nature of the commodity to be carried in the container are a few.

Since variations and modifications in the construction of the retractable pouring spout and the combination of a supporting nozzle therewith, as described in the foregoing and shown in the accompanying drawing, may readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, it is-v to be understood that the same can be made without: departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.v It is accordingly intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing;

shall be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A one-piece retractable pouring spout for containers molded of synthetic plastic material comprising a tubular body member having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower outwardly flared portion of substantial length, said upper and lower portions having a substantially uniform cross-sectional wall thickness, said body member terminating at its uppermost end in a circumferential retaining lip, a radially outwardly opening circumferential groove formed at the lowermost end of said outwardly flared portion, said groove having a cylindrical base portion and an upper side wall, said body member terminat ing at its lowermost end in a castellated formation comprising a plurality of alternately spaced recesses and lugs,

said recesses extending completely through said body member wall and extending upwardly into and part way across said groove base, each of said lugs terminating in an outwardly extending flange having an upper surface forming the interrupted lower side wall of said groove and an outer downwardly and inwardly beveled surface to facilitate initial insertion of said castellated formation within a spout supporting structure.

2. A one-piece retractable pouring spout for containers molded of synthetic plastic material comprising a tubular body member having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower outwardly flared portion, said flared portion extending downwardly and outwardly from said cylindrical portion at an angle in the range of 1 to 3, said body member terminating at its uppermost end in a circumferential retaining lip, a radially outwardly opening circumferential groove formed at the lowermost end of said outwardly flared portion, said groove having a cylindrical base portion and an upper side wall, said body member terminating at its lowermost end in a castellated formation comprising a plurality of alternately spaced recesses and lugs, said recesses extending completely through said body member wall and extending upwardly into and part way across said groove base, each of said lugs termimating in an outwardly extending flange having an upper surface forming the interrupted lower side wall of said groove and an outer downwardly and inwardly beveled surface to facilitate initial insertion of said castellated formation within a spout supporting structure.

3. A one-piece retractable pouring spout as in claim 2, including a vent opening in said upper cylindrical body portion adjacent said retaining lip.

4. A one-piece retractable pouring spout as in claim 2, including a finger grip integrally formed with said retaining lip.

5. In combination, a spout supporting member having a circular opening bordered by a downwardly extending wall, said wall comprising an upper cylindrical portion, a lower cylindrical portion of smaller diameter than said upper portion terminating in a lowermost free edge and an intermediate annular ledge connecting said upper and lower cylindrical portions, a one-piece retractable pouring spout within said opening molded of synthetic plastic material possessing a substantial degree of dimensional instability comprising a tubular body member having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower outwardly flared portion of substantial length, said body member terminating at its uppermost end in a circumferential retaining lip adapted to rest on said ledge with said spout in retracted position, a radially outwardly opening circumferential groove formed at the lowermost end of said outwardly flared portion, said groove having a cylindrical base portion and an upper side wall, said body member terminating at its lowermost end in a castellated formation comprising a plurality of alternately spaced recesses and lugs, said recesses extending completely through said body member wall and extending upwardly into and part way across said groove base, each of said lugs terminating in 6 an outwardly extending flange having an upper surface forming the interrupted lower side wall of said groove and anouter downwardly and inwardly beveled surface to facilitate initial insertion of said castellated formation within a spout supporting structure, said lower cylindrical portion seating within said groove with said spout in fully extended pouring position and seating on said flared portion with said spout in swelled partially extended position.

6. In combination, a spout supporting member having a circular opening bordered by a downwardly extending cylindrical support wall, a pouring spout slidably received within said opening and movable between first and second positions, said spout for-med of synthetic plastic material possessing a substantial degree of dimensional instability comprising a tubular body member having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower outwardly flared portion of substantial length, said body member terminating at its uppermost end in a circumferential retaining lip adapted to engage said support wall when said spout is in said first position, a radially outwardly opening circumferential groove formed at the lowermost end of said outwardly flared body portion, having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said support wall and a width corresponding to the length of said support wall and adapted to receive said support wall in sealing contact therewith when said spout is in said second position, said outwardly flared body portion having a maximum diameter exceeding the diameter of said support wall, said body member terminating at its lowermost end in a castellated formation comprising a plurality of alternately spaced recesses and lugs, and the surface of said support wall positioned in rigid sealing contact with the surface of said outwardly flared body portion when said spout is intermediate said first and second positions.

7. In combination, a spout supporting member having a circular opening and comprising a vertically extending cylindrical support wall, a pouring spout slidably received within said opening and movable between a first position and a second position, said spout being formed of synthetic plastic material possessing a substantial degree of dimensional instability comprising a tubular body member having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower outwardly flared portion of substantial length, said body member terminating at its uppermost end in a circumferential retaining lip adapted to engage said support wall when said spout is in said first position, a radially outwardly opening circumferential seat formed at the lowermost end of said outwardly flared body portion having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said support wall and a length corresponding to the length of said support wall, said outwardly flared body portion having a maximum diameter exceeding the diameter of said sup port wall, and the surface of said support wall positioned in rigid sealing contact with the surface of said outwardly flared body portion when said spout is intermediate said first and second positions.

8. A one-piece retractable pouring spout for containers molded of synthetic plastic material comprising a tubular body member having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower outwardly flared portion, said upper and lower portions having a substantially uniform cross-sectional wall thickness, said body member terminating at its uppermost end in a circumferential retaining lip, a finger grip integrally formed with said retaining lip, a radially outwardly opening circumferential groove formed at the lowermost end of said outwardly flared portion, said groove having a cylindrical base portion and an upper side wall, said body member terminating at its lowermost end in a castellated formation comprising a plurality of alternately spaced recesses and lugs, said recesses extending completely through said body member wall extending upwardly into and part way across said groove base, each of said lugs terminating in an outwardly extending flange having an upper surface forming the interrupted lower side wall of said groove and an outer downwardly and inwardly beveled surface to facilitate initial insertion of said castellated formation within a spout supporting structure.

9. In combination, a spout supporting member having a circular opening surrounded by a peripheral support wall, a pouring spout slidably received within said opening normally movable between a fully retracted stored position and a fully extended pouring position, said spout comprising a tubular body member having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower outwardly flared portion, said lower outwardly flared portion having a length substantially greater than the length of said support wall, said spout being formed of a synthetic plastic material possessing a substantial degree of dimensional instability, said upper cylindrical body portion having a diameter less than the diameter of said opening and terminating at its upper end in a peripheral retaining lip, said lower outwardly flared body portion having a maximum diameter greater than the diameter of said opening and terminating at its lower end in a radially outwardly facing support wall engaging seat, said outwardly flared body portion positioned in rigid sealing contact with said support wall when said spout is in partially extended position intermediate said fully retracted stored position and said fully extended position.

10. A pouring spout for containers molded of synthetic plastic material possessing a substantial degree of dimensional instability, comprising a tubular body member having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower outwardly flared portion of substantial length, said upper and lower portions having a substantially uniform cross-sectional wall thickness, said upper cylindrical portion terminating at its upper end in a circumferential retaining lip, said lower outwardly flared portion extending downwardly and outwardly from said cylindrical portion at an angle in the range of one to three degrees from the longitudinal axis of said tubular body member and terminating at its lower end in a support member engaging seat.

11. A pouring spout for containers molded of a synthetic plastic material possessing a substantial degree of dimensional instability, comprising a tubular body member having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower outwardly flared portion, said upper cylindrical portion terminating at its upper end in a circumferential lip for supporting said spout in a first position, a seat formed at the lower end of said outwardly fiared portion for supporting said spout in a second position, and said outwardly flared portion providing a surface having an infinite number of supporting positions intermediate said first and second positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,360 9/1923 Frey 222-522 2,545,178 3/1951 Vaughn 222-525 2,774,523 12/1956 Rieke 222-525 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner. 

1. A ONE-PIECE RETRACTABLE POURING SPOUT FOR CONTAINERS MOLDED OF SYNTHETIC PLASTIC MATERIAL COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND A LOWER OUTWARDLY FLARED PORTION OF SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH, SAID UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CROSS-SECTIONAL WALL THICKNESS, SAID BODY MEMBER TERMINATING AT ITS UPPERMOST END IN CIRCUMFERENTIAL RETAINING LIP, RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OPENING CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVE FORMED AT THE LOWERMOST END OF SAID OUTWARDLY FLARED PORTION, SAID GROOVE HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BASE PORTION AND AN UPPER SIDE WALL, SAID BODY MEMBER TEMINATING AT ITS LOWERMOST END IN A CASTELLATED FORMATION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ALTERNATELY SPACED RECESSES AND LUGS, SAID RECESSES EXTENDING COMPLETELY THROUGH SAID BODY MEMBER WALL AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY INTO AND PART WAY ACROSS SAID GROOVE BASE, EACH OF SAID LUGS TERMINATING IN AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE FORMING THE INTERRUPTED LOWER SIDE WALL OF SAID GROOVE AND AN OUTER DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY BEVELED SURFACE TO FACILITATE INITIAL INSERTION OF SAID CASTELLATED FORMATION WITHIN A SPOUT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE. 